The series is that good. I stopped watching it on the second ep, sure, but only because I went to pick up the books. I'm currently reading the second one and only now watching all the eps I missed and finally getting all the nuances of the plots and characters - and still the series manages to spoil a few things

spoiler:

like now I understand why Renly Baratheon's personal guard is called Rainbow ¬¬

I like most of what's been shown so far. Although, having read all five books in the meantime, I do have minor issues with some "loose interpretations" by the TV show writers.

When it comes to new characters, I think they did a great job with the casting choice for Davos Seaworth, but Stannis could be better (I think the actor playing Stannis would have been much better in the role of Janos Slynt). Melisandre is OK, Balon Greyjoy is pretty much what I imagined and Salador San was surprisingly entertaining. Xaro Xoan Daxos might not be what I imagined, but I think the actor is doing a good job nonetheless.

Going back to the old characters - Arya is still awesome, as is Tyrion. I'm liking Varys more and more, so props to his actor as well.

Yep, I got completely the same thought on Stannis. Also, Yara (or Asha) is completely different from how I envisioned her, but she doesn't do a bad job either way.

Also credit to the guy playing Joffrey. As disgusting as his character is, the actor plays it to perfection. A lot has been said about the child-actors for a series this violent and all, but they're all doing an amazing job.

I like most of what's been shown so far. Although, having read all five books in the meantime, I do have minor issues with some "loose interpretations" by the TV show writers.

Same. I know that Martyn is closely by the production team and is under every direction they choose to take, but I sincerely hope some of the choices the TV series seem to be taking (some are pretty radical changes) don't impact Martyn's two future. He wrote on A Dance with Dragons that he's already having some trouble keeping up with all the lore. Fortunately, he isn't getting short of dedicated fans and fangroups all around the world to help him out with the task anytime soon, but you got to admit it may be getting harder to wrap it all up.

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When it comes to new characters, I think they did a great job with the casting choice for Davos Seaworth, but Stannis could be better (I think the actor playing Stannis would have been much better in the role of Janos Slynt). Melisandre is OK, Balon Greyjoy is pretty much what I imagined and Salador San was surprisingly entertaining. Xaro Xoan Daxos might not be what I imagined, but I think the actor is doing a good job nonetheless.

Again, agreed on all accounts. I know that the actor DOES looks like Martyn description of Stannis, but I tend to create personal templates of them in my head depending of their personality. As "gaunt" as he is repeatedly described as, I kinda miss the "strong jaw" and... I'm not certain, an even more serious face. I don't know, no one but Davos and Melisandre and Davos's son and Stannis's squire were supposed to like him anyway, so if we don't think he's charismatic, he's on the right path.

The characters of old are still excelent, not so sure about some of Sansa's scene, but overrall great. The new characters are pretty good as well, special mentions for Ygritte, Davos (supreme, one of the most beloved characters on the books and now on the series as well, and the guy hasn't even read the books because he wants to discover his character as he goes but still managed to explain Davos-Stannis relationship in a paragraph in better ways than I could in a certain interview), Xaro, and Brienne, who definetly looks the part.

Of the recurring scenes I enjoy the most are two plain, but filled with sagacity and tension, conversations: Tyrion and the Spider on the Red Keep and Arya and Tywin, on Harrenhal - minor spoiler for A Clash of Kings below:

spoiler:

even though those last series of conversation never happened on the books. I wonder if for the TV they wanted to give both Arya and Tywin more screentime, seeing as they're both excellent.

From GoT to DwD, arguably 2~3 years. It's never too clear on the books, with some chapters picking up immediately after the last, or with months of interlude. Our best hint is probably the younger character's ages. Sansa, if I'm not mistaken, is 11 at GoT, and 13 by a certain point of SoS. There are more hints, but not many.

So how did everyone experience the Blackwater episode? I thought it was one of the best episodes of the series so far, perhaps one of the best episodes on tv this year. Wildfire! Sadly, season 2 is already ending this week, how time flies...

A whole year to wait for Game of Thrones once more. Which may be even harder than before, because book 3... well, it's gonna rock on tv! Also, most of the characters people feared wouldn't show up in the show have been or will be cast for season 3 (the Reeds, Vargo Hoat, Blackfish and more), can't wait to see some of those very awesome characters.

Tyrion was awesome, as always. And so was Bron. Davos had a relatively small apprearance, but I guess they might have left something for the last episode. Can't wait to see the resolution with Arya and H'Gar (one of the best minor characters in the second book, IMO).

I didn't like the last episode. Too much time spent on the battle, and no story development.

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Originally Posted by igyman

Tyrion was awesome, as always. And so was Bron. Davos had a relatively small apprearance, but I guess they might have left something for the last episode. Can't wait to see the resolution with Arya and H'Gar (one of the best minor characters in the second book, IMO).

Gotta agree on both accounts. But everyone's expectations were so high there was little chance of they reaching it.

I was actually a little disappointed with the battle, overall. The hack'n slashing was fine but I missed a certain green demon whipping the ships aflame on the Blackwater...

Looking good. I hope they can transfer the madness that is book 3 to the small screen. I've been hyping my friends to no end about this season, so they better!

And yes, that dragon shot looks awesome. I've been a bit wary about the CGI-heavy elements and how succesful they'd be in getting those dragons/direwolves etc. right, but hell, they're doing a great job so far.

@CAD: they still need to be tv-pretty, I guess. I had hoped for more than just the scar myself, as that's how I've been envisioning Tyrion in the books all this time, but oh well.

Having read the books, this obviously came as no surprise, but hell was it hard to relive it once more. I'm missing something that was in the books and that made that particular event that more disturbing, but maybe we'll see it in what is in GoT the traditional "aftermath" season finale.

I recently bought season 1 and 2 on DVD. I really enjoyed the show, loved look and feel and just the quality put into this. Looking forward to what goes on in season 3. I've been eyeing the books; but have so far resisted to purchase them.

I want to watch the TV series first and then delve into the books. Like that I'll enjoy both much more ^_^

I'm not sure I agree, Quanon. Having read all the books (out so far) and following the series religiously, I find that the books were better, more engaging experiences. That said, the series isn't bad at all but it does spoils many of the surprises masterfully delivered on the books.

So while I don't know if watching the series first is the best option, I found great pleasure in reading the books and then watching how they'd do particular scenes on the series (and if they'd actually do those things on the TV, since some parts are seem too gruesome for TV audience).

On the ninth episode - having read the books, what happened didn't come as a surprise at all. I guess the only surprise was that it happened in the ninth episode. I kind of thought they'd save it for the big season cliffhanger.

On account of books vs. the TV series - I find that the source material is always better than the adaptation. That said, this has mostly been a good adaptation of the books, although I don't quite understand the need for certain "artistic liberties" the show writers took, especially in this season, or the need to replace characters from the books with placeholders. It was bad enough they replaced Jeyne Westerling with Volantis-girl, but to replace a hilariously entertaining villain like Vargo Hoat with some random guy named Locke is something I just can't understand.

I loved Episode 9, but hated it all at the same time as the final scenes played out (though not quite as I'd imagined it in my head). But I'm a little upset they didn't bring the Greatjon back for his defiant last stand.

But I'm a little upset they didn't bring the Greatjon back for his defiant last stand.

It seems they couldn't get him back for season 2, so I'm guessing they decided to leave him out of season 3 as well?

As for the books vs. TV discussion: I'm glad the TV series did some things differently. The main task is still to create great television, not copy-past the books. And some scenes that weren't in the books were some of the best in the show and some stuff that was abandoned for the TV show made the whole thing better. That being said, I slightly prefer the books still, because the scope is massive and because of its ambition, the books are able to do things a TV show just can't do.